Saturday 17th January 2026
Clarence House Chase Day
The action gets underway on Saturday with the 1.25 at Haydock, and this is the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle, which is a Supreme Trial, over a mile and seven and a half furlongs. OLD PARK STAR sets the standard here on the back of back-to-back impressive victories at Kempton and Cheltenham, since joining Nicky Henderson. He won by twelve lengths on that occasion, and on that form should be tough to beat. Hurricane Pat should be the main danger; he also looks exciting and was a five and a half length winner of a Listed event at Sandown on his most recent outing, which came last month.
Moving on to the 1.40 at Ascot, which is more Grade 2 action in the form of the Warfield Mares’ Hurdle, that’s contested over a mile and seven and a half furlongs. Jamie Snowden’s LA CONQUIERE looks like a very promising sort, coming into the race unbeaten over hurdles, and signed off her season last term when finishing half of a length second of twenty in the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree. Most recently, she won a listed mares’ novice hurdle at Newbury in November by over three lengths, and she looks likely to improve further. Her man rival is likely to come in the form of Nurse Susan, who’s chasing a hat-trick following a win in a competitive Cheltenham handicap in December, before winning a listed mares hurdle at Sandown earlier this month. She’s down in trip here, which may not be ideal; however, she’s still dangerous.
The third race of the afternoon’s coverage comes within the 2.00 at Haydock, and this is the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase, which is a Premier Handicap that’s ridden over three miles and a furlong and a half. Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore could hold the key to this puzzle with MYRETOWN, who’s set to be ridden by Derek Fox. He’s been highly progressive over fences and was an eleven-length winner on the Ultima Handicap Chase at last season’s Cheltenham Festival. He was sent off the 4/1 favourite for the Coral Gold Cup at Haydock on his first start of this campaign; however, he fell at the ninth flight. He remains on the same mark as he was for his Newbury assignment, and could well prove to be well-handicapped. The Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith-trained Konfusion has made rapid progress this term, winning the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle on his penultimate start by fifteen lengths, before following up at Wetherby on Boxing Day with a seven-length success in the Rowland Meyrick Handicap. There could be more to come from him, and he’s certainly a player.
It’s more competitive handicap chase action with the next contest, which is the 2.20 at Ascot, and this is a Class 2 affair that takes place over two miles and five furlongs. There is likely a lot more still to come from the Sam Thomas-trained VINCENZO, who comes into this race with a string of second-placed efforts to his name, with all three of those runs coming within competitive Grade 3 handicap chases. His most recent run came in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham, where he finished a length and a half behind Glengouly, and he’s only a pound higher on this occasion. He should bag one of these competitive affairs sooner rather than later, and he’s a major player here. This is unsurprisingly competitive, but the main danger to the Thomas charge could come in the form of Scarface for Joe Tizzard and Brendan Powell. He kept on to finish second to the reopposing Etalon last time out at Sandown, and he steps back up in trip here, which looks like the correct move. He was also fourth in this contest last year.
We’re back over the smaller obstacles within the next contest, and this is the 2.35 at Haydock, which is a Class 3 handicap hurdle, contested over three miles and half of a furlong. It could be worth taking a chance on David Pipe’s PHANTOMOFTHEPOINTS here, who’s currently trading at a best price of 7/1 at the time of writing, under the jockeyship of Jack Tudor. He ran very well on his seasonal reappearance here back in November, finishing third of seventeen in the Grade 3 Stayers Handicap Hurdle behind Electric Mason. He fell on his chase debut at Uttoxeter last time out, so reverts back to hurdles here off a mark which is just two pounds higher than his last winning mark. Dan Skelton’s Dalston Lad is completely unexposed here on his handicap debut, and comes into the race having won by thirteen-lengths on his latest start within novice company at Sedgefield. There’s likely significant improvement to come from him. Another one who’s worth a mention here is Solar System for Phillip Hobbs & Johnson White, he won a handicap over two miles and five furlongs at this track twelve months ago, and could run well here on his seasonal reappearance under three-pound claimer Callum Pritchard.
The penultimate race on the ITV coverage this week is the 2.53 at Ascot, and this is a Class 2 handicap hurdle that takes place over two miles and three and a half furlongs. This follows the theme of competitive handicaps throughout the afternoon, where a case could be made for most. TRIPOLI FLYER could bounce back to form here, though, for the team of Fergal & Fern O’Brien, who takes off five pounds. He’s been dining at the top table in each of his last three starts over hurdles, with his most recent run coming in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day. He found that company too hot, and this represents a likely welcomed ease in grade. He was a smart novice, winning the Grade 2 Dovecote Hurdle at Kempton last year, getting the better of the smart Miami Magic by seven and a half lengths. If he refinds any of that form, he should be a force within handicap company. Surrey Lord has been highly progressive for Toby Lawes, winning three of his last four starts within handicap company, and he’s a big danger to all here under Kevin Brogan. There could also be more to come from Came From Nowhere for Jeremy Scott. He won his first handicap at the second time of asking at Hereford last month, when getting up by two and a half lengths; he could also take another big step forward.
Concluding the action for the day will be the 3.30 at Ascot, and this is the feature contest in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase, which is ridden over a distance of two miles and a furlong. This race has been won by an illustrious list of top-class chasers from years gone by, and the Willie Mullins-trained IL ETAIT TEMPS is another one who has started to develop into a real top-class horse. He got the better of the reopposing Jonbon by nine lengths last time out in the Tingle Creek at Sandown last month, and it’s hard to envisage last year’s winner of this race turning that form around here. The Mullins eight-year-old should be very tough to beat here under Paul Townend if he’s in the same form, and he can add a sixth graded success in a row, five of which have been Grade 1s. Rapid-improver Thistle Ask could be the next best here for Dan & Harry Skelton; he hasn’t looked back since joining this all-conquering team, and has won four in a row this term, by a combined total of thirty-one and a half lengths. He won the Haldon Gold Cup and Desert Orchid Chase in his last two outings, both being Grade 2 affairs. It remains to be seen where his ceiling is.
NAP: OLD PARK STAR – 1.25 Haydock
NB: VINCENZO – 2.20 Ascot
(Treble): LA CONQUIERE – 1.40 Ascot
(L15): MYRETOWN – 2.00 Haydock
